Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged female members of the two houses to share the problems faced by women in their districts and discuss achievements of the government in terms of empowerment through a variety of schemes of the central and state governments open-mindedly during the session dedicated to them.
Addressing members of UP Assembly, the CM said that the proceedings of the house would be documented and sent to all the state assemblies in the country as history was being created in UP by giving female members a chance to speak exclusively about the problems faced and the impact of women welfare schemes on them for the first time at an exclusive session in the democratic journey of the country.
CM Yogi said that despite having given women the right to vote and being ahead of many developed countries including Britain in guaranteeing women’s rights, India, the largest democracy of the world, has not progressed according to expectations on this front.
Describing the move as a long overdue step, which would prove to be a milestone in empowerment of women, CM Yogi said that his government has implemented many schemes of the central and state governments for the empowerment of the girl child and women, the impact of which is clearly visible in rural society.
CM said that the role of women has always been vital in the Indian society, pointing out that wives of saints contributed to the writing of Vedas in thje ancient times while Maharani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi took up arms to fight the British rule.
Reiterating commitment of his government to the safety, honour and self-reliance of women, CM said that the state has made great achievements in this regard through effective implementation of schemes like Livelihood Mission, Mission Shakti, Kanya Sumangala, Ujjwala, Matrivandana and Swamitva.
CM said that the construction of 45 lakh houses under Prime Minister Awas Yojana, 2.61 crore toilets under Swachhata Mission as well as distribution of 1.67 lakh gas connections under Ujjwala Scheme and 40 lakh property ownership papers under Swamitva Yojana have brought about a positive change in the lives of women.
Describing Banking Sakhi scheme as a gamechanger in rural areas in terms of empowerment of women, Yogi remarked that as many as 35,000 banking correspondents were working in panchayats to help people in banking transactions and a banking sakhi in Sultanpur had earned a commission of Rs 3 lakh.
He said that around 14 lakh daughters were benefitting from Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana while pension for destitute women has been increased benefitting 31.50 lakh women. In addition, 66 lakh women have been added to the State Livelihood Mission.
The Chief Minister said that the number of women in the police force has been increased from 10,000 since independence to 2017, 35,000 now, while 10417 new women police posts have been formed whiloe helpdesks for women have been set up at all the 1584 police stations in the state. Apart from these, 3195 Anti Romeo Squads were formed by the government to check crime against women.
Quoting NCRB data, the Chief Minister said that through effective prosecution in cases of crime against women and children, death sentence has been awarded to criminals in 32 cases. He added that 1323 criminals have been sentenced to life imprisonment while 1191 have got prison term for more than 10 years.
The Chief Minister said that in the last five years, Uttar Pradesh has witnessed 32% drop in rape, 29% in abduction, 25% in delinquency and 12% reduction in dowry murder cases, which shows that if concerted efforts are made the situation would even be better.